Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

p1ng — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 13:02:09 GMT

so after more troubleshooting it suddenly started working in my main project. i dont know the exact reason why. it was either i was initally testing wrong things, something got fixed after deleting build folder and making new configuration or the issue was caused by cmake or some other cache.

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

Sigurd Hellesvik — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 05:44:48 GMT

Hi p1ng,

It is too bad that did not work.
If you want help getting this fixed, I recommend that you create a new ticket.

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

p1ng — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 18:12:50 GMT

turns out IvanVs thing didnt work for me either. What worked for my project was to add #include <pm_config.h> to code. thats the file hwere all those generated defines are. and u dont need to name it custom_nvs_storage, u can name it anything u want. before i came to this solution i had created a sample project out of nordic academys intermediate course lesson8 exercise2 - just only added pm_static.yml to the project and chosen block to overlays i think - in that project i didnt need to add that include. i wasnt getting the build error though so i suppose something in the conf already made build include that header file at the right time but i wasnt able to figure out what. that what was missing from my big project.

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

p1ng — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 08:31:43 GMT

yeah i think ill go with IvanVs solution cause creating the ticket would take too much of my time atm because i would have to create a small project where there is only mcuboot and nvs stuff just to make sure anything in my big project isnt causing the issue.

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

Sigurd Hellesvik — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 08:12:21 GMT

[quote user="p1ng"]I tried setting the partion name to custom_nvs_storage in pm_static.yml in my project but still cant access the custom_nvs_storage variable in c++ code.[/quote]

I think this should be able to work.
I suggest that you create a new ticket asking for help with this. (And referencing this ticket in there).

[quote user="p1ng"]Trying out IvanV solution now by getting address and device variables from build\zephyr\include\generated\pm_config.h this looks promising[/quote]

If that works for you, you are of course free to do so as well.

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

p1ng — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 08:10:31 GMT

I tried setting the partion name to custom_nvs_storage in pm_static.yml in my project but still cant access the custom_nvs_storage variable in c++ code. Trying out IvanV solution now by getting address and device variables from build\zephyr\include\generated\pm_config.h this looks promising

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

Sigurd Hellesvik — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 07:08:32 GMT

Hi p1ng,

I cannot update the sample uploaded here for every nRF Connect SDK version.
The method for fixing the issue should still be the same though, so it will be up to you to learn how the sample works, and then implement the same fix in your applicaiton.

Regards,
Sigurd Hellesvik

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

p1ng — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 06:42:17 GMT

I have the same problem now as described in this thread. the peripheral_hr_settings_nvs_mcuboot does not compile any more. i use 2.6.1 sdk. what needs to be changed?

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

Sigurd Hellesvik — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 07:46:56 GMT

Good job fixing this!

[quote user="JohnnyBravo"]I will say though I did have weird issues whereby I had to delete my original build config and create it again before it would recognize the new partition without error.[/quote]

Yep, you sometimes have to delete the build folder.

[quote user="JohnnyBravo"]Do you NEED a multi-image build to setup a custom isolated NVS?[/quote]

Multi-Image build != partition manager.
But pm_static.yml is only for the partition manager,
However, you can use DTS partitioning instead if you want.

That being said, if you want to use MCUboot, which you probably will, then the partition manager and multi image build will be automatically enabled.

(In v2.7.0 sysbuild becomes an alternative for multi image build)

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

JohnnyBravo — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 04:26:59 GMT

I've managed it now, just needed to add CONFIG_BOOTLOADER_MCUBOOT=y, and add that pm_static.yml to my application directory.

I will say though I did have weird issues whereby I had to delete my original build config and create it again before it would recognize the new partition without error.

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

JohnnyBravo — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 03:41:11 GMT

Do you NEED a multi-image build to setup a custom isolated NVS? I think I am facing a situation where BLE is overwriting an NVS that I setup as in the Zephyr NVS example just using the storage_partition, but up until this point I haven't actually had to setup a multi-image build.

The tutorial you link unfortunately really doesn't explain well how to enable and configure NVS with the Partition Manager for the first time, more just goes over what it is and why Nordic use it and has a vague go at explaining where to look. Can you recommend any other resource, also happy to make a thread if that's a better idea.

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

Sigurd Hellesvik — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:04:26 GMT

pm_static.yml is included in your application if you have the partition manager enabled.
See https://academy.nordicsemi.com/courses/nrf-connect-sdk-intermediate/lessons/lesson-8-bootloaders-and-dfu-fota/topic/multi-image-builds-and-the-partition-manager/ for some context on the partition manager.

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

JohnnyBravo — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 06:54:58 GMT

How exactly does this work, I see you have custom_nvs_storage defined in "pm_static.yml", but it seems by default my application doesn't just read this and define and create this new partition, how do I include that "pm_static.yml"?

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

Sigurd Hellesvik — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 14:34:25 GMT

Here is an edited version of peripheral_hr with persistent Bluetooth LE storage, MCUboot and a custom NVS partition.

peripheral_hr_settings_nvs_mcuboot.zip

Regards,
Sigurd Hellesvik

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

Roiger — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 10:17:01 GMT

Its fine by me! The minimal sample you sent does not hold and private info from our end, and is rather a useful general BT case 🙂

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

Sigurd Hellesvik — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 14:26:25 GMT

Roiger is it alright with you that I upload the minimal sample from the private case here?

It is, of course, very alright if you say no. In that case, I will give Ivan the specifics that he needs.

Regards,
Sigurd Hellesvik

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

IvanV — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 07:34:44 GMT

Where did you define that custom partition, and can you provide program snippet?

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

Roiger — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 17:34:00 GMT

Hi Sigurd!
I have tested quite a few times and this seems to work as expected!
Thanks very much for all your help!
Roi

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

Roiger — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 11:00:18 GMT

After retrying from scratch - it seems your (Sigurd's) solution has worked for me!
It was all down to the name of the partition (must be EXACTLY custom_nvs_storage) for this to work.
I will do a few more tests and close this and the other ticket if they work.
Many thanks!
Roi

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

Sigurd Hellesvik — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 08:25:11 GMT

My solution in the private case was to create a new custom partition for NVS to use in the app.
This way, there are two NVS partitions: one used by the Bluetooth and one used by the application.

However, I think your solution is also very good.
Since Bluetooth use the NVS backend, remember to make sure that you do not accidentally overwrite any of the data stored by Bluetooth.

Regards,
Sigurd Hellesvik

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

IvanV — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 14:32:23 GMT

Ok I think I've managed to get it working.

If you look into partitions.yml file under build folder, cou can see that the nvs_storage start address is at 0x3f000. If you search that address in all files under build folder, you can find that the PM_NVS_STORAGE_ADDRESS macro defined in build\zephyr\include\generated\pm_config.h file is the start address of the NVS storage. With that, you can populate the fs.offset variable.

To get the flash device binding, again found in the build\zephyr\include\generated\pm_config.h file, the PM_NVS_STORAGE_DEV_NAME macro includes NVS storage device name. With it, you can populate the fs.flash_device variable by calling device_get_binding(PM_NVS_STORAGE_DEV_NAME) function.

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

IvanV — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 14:00:42 GMT

Please do not change conversation to private because I have the same problem as you do, and presume many others too.

I am using DFU (Partition manager with static partitions defined in the partitions.yml file) with NVS storage code where I need to read/write values in non-volatile storage. When I enable DFU (Partition manager), the partition DTS node in flash0 node of soc defined in board DTS becomes not true because the partitions from partitions.yml file are included so the code under zephyr/samples/subsys/nvs/src/main.c (which your code uses), does not work anymore.

In partitions.yml file located under the build folder, I have nvs_storage node prepended (not by me) at the address 0x3f000 with size 0x6000.

Now, the question is how do I reference nvs start address in the sample code?

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

Roiger — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 17:50:23 GMT

Hi Sigurd,

Thanks very much for the suggestion!!
I have opened a private ticket with what you have requested.
Thanks again!
Roi

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

Sigurd Hellesvik — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 08:18:42 GMT

Hi Roi,

Reading through your case above, I realize that it can be hard to give debugging tips for projects with a lot of moving parts.
So I will propose another way to do it: You give me a description of a simple project that has the features you need, and I will try to configure it for you.

What I need to know:

Bluetooth LE base sample (from BLE samples):

<Sample name>

Feature list:

(example) MCUboot
(example) NVS
etc

How does that sound to you?

Regards,
Sigurd Hellesvik

RE: Setting and using NVS and BT Settings with Static Partition Manager

Roiger — Sun, 12 Mar 2023 10:17:51 GMT

Thanks Sigurd!
Per your suggestion on my previous ticket, I have tried to remove DTS flash partitions and "chosen" for settings_partition, and the app now works, but LTK is not saved for next connection.
Perhaps there is some way to explicitly direct "zephyr,settings_partition" at flash memory by address (ie - partition @ address) ?

Thanks!

Roi